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This white chicken chili is so easy! I love a good one-pot meal. You basically toss everything into a slow cooker and let it be for half the day. It takes minimal effort and it’s definitely a crowd pleaser!
My co-worker, Amaia, shared this recipe with me after bringing it to a potluck. Thanks Amaia; it was well-loved by my husband ;). I hope your takeaway from the video tutorial is how easy this recipe really is!
Ingredients for white chicken chili:
2 chicken breasts (frozen or fresh)
1 (15 oz)can black beans; drained and rinsed (or cook your own beans!)
1 (15 oz) can white beans, drained and rinsed
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 (15 oz) can corn, un-drained
1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chilies, un-drained
1 Tbsp chili powder 1 tsp cumin
1 (o.4 oz) package ranch dressing mix
1/2 bunch of cilantro; chopped
1/2 to 1 cup chicken broth (I used Better than bouillon reduced sodium)
1 (8oz) package cream cheese (regular or reduced fat)
Optional (but highly recommended) garnish:
Mixed Mexican cheese, sour cream and chives
The How To (please watch the video for the visual tutorial):
Place everything into the slow cooker in the order that it’s listed above:
1. Place 2 chicken breasts in the bottom of the crock pot.
2. Drain and rinse (rinse until water runs clear) black and white beans; then add them to the pot. P.S. We’re now cooking our own beans to reduce the amount of BPA in our diet. Click here to learn how to easily make your own beans.
3. Add finely chopped medium onion, un-drained can of corn, un-drained can of diced tomatoes with green chilies
4. Top with 1 Tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp cumin, 1 package ranch dressing mix, 1/2 bunch of chopped cilantro, 1/2 to 1 cup chicken broth (I used 1 cup and it does thicken up as it stands; especially after being refrigerated) and finally place your 8 oz package of cream cheese in the center.
5. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours. After it’s been cooking 5 hours, break up the cream cheese into the rest of the mix. Cover and continue cooking the last hour (if you forget this step, it won’t hurt anything to mix it at the end).
6. After the 6 hours, remove the chicken breasts into a medium bowl and shred using two forks. The chicken is so tender it just falls apart. Place the chicken back into the slow cooker and stir to combine everything.
Amaia served this over baked potatoes topped with cheese and sour cream. It’s also great with tortilla chips or white rice.
Chicken Cream Cheese Chili (Slow Cooker Recipe)

Ingredients
For the chili, you will need:
- 2 chicken breasts
- 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 15 oz can white beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 15 oz can of corn, with its juice
- 10 oz can diced tomatoes with green chilies, with it's juice
- 1 Tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 0.4 oz ranch dressing mix packet
- 1/2 bunch of cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 to 1 cup chicken broth, I used Better than bouillon reduced sodium mixed with water
- 8 oz cream cheese, regular or reduced fat
Optional (but highly recommended) garnish:
- shredded Mexican cheese, sour cream and chives
Instructions
Put everything into the slow cooker in the order that it's listed above:
- Place 2 chicken breasts in the bottom of the crock pot.
- Drain and rinse (rinse until water runs clear) black and white beans; then add them to the pot.
- Add finely chopped medium onion, undrained can of corn, undrained can of diced tomatoes with green chilies
- Top with 1 Tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp cumin, 1 package ranch dressing mix, 1/2 bunch of chopped cilantro, 1/2-1 cup chicken broth (depending on how thick you want it; I used 1 cup) and finally place your 8 oz package of cream cheese on top.
- Cover and cook on low for 6 hours. After it's been cooking 5 hours, break up the cream cheese into the rest of the mix. Cover and continue cooking the last hour (if you forget this step, it won't hurt anything to mix it at the end).
- After the 6 hours, remove the chicken breasts into a medium bowl and shred with two forks. Chicken should be fall-apart tender. Place the chicken back into the slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Serve over baked potatoes topped with cheese and sour cream. It's also great with tortilla chips or white rice.
Natasha, I don’t have a crock pot, can I make this on low in the oven using a cast iron pot?
Hi Pat! You could do this on the stovetop but it would require a long cook time over low heat for the chicken to become tender. Bring it to a simmer then reduce the heat to just barely a simmer and cook until chicken is easy to shred with forks.
Can’t wait to make this as is sounds super yummy and amazing. Question….what would you substitute for the black beans? My hubby does not like black beans.
Thanks for all of your amazing recipes. You are my “go to” for yummy recipes! 🙂
Hi Lorri, you can use just about any canned whole beans you prefer – white or kidney or pinto would still work well.
Thanks so much! 🙂
You’re welcome!
Seriously so good – I used 1/2 cup broth, seasoned northern beans (undrained) and a package of chicken chili seasoning. The consistency was perfect and the chicken turned out the softest of any chicken recipe I’ve done in the slow cooker. Hubby loved it! Best recipe around
That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review 🙂
Is the consistency like a soup? I want to try it out but Im wondering is it as runny as other types of chili or more like a stiff dip? Just wondering. Thanks for all you do Natasha! Love your recipes!
It shouldn’t be like a soup. You can add more liquid if you want it to be more like a soup however.
Hi Natasha
We’re in Bulgaria and can’t buy ranch dressing mix, what do you suggest we can use instead.
Hi Andrew, I’m not sure what is equivalent to ranch mix in Bulgaria. You might need to google that.
Hi Natasha, I would love to try this chili recipe but would like to know if I can make it without tomatoes. I am allergic to tomatoes.
Thanks, Judy Kaiser
Hi Judith, I haven’t tried it that way but I think it would still work without the tomatoes. You might add some diced bell pepper instead.
I see this recipe was posted 5 years ago, but I made it for the first time tonight. I’ve made chicken chili many times, but nothing this good. It was truly delicious and perfect for this cooler, breezy, rainy September evening as we are experiencing some mild effects of Hurricane Florence as it is moving through upstate SC. Prayers for all those closer to the coast. Thanks again for this delicious, easy recipe. I’ll be making this often. I love your site❣️
Hi! I hope you are staying safe over there! Thank you for the wonderful review. I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe!
Do you think I can freeze this and it will turn out okay?
Hi Anna, I haven’t tried freezing it so I can’t say for sure but I imagine it would work well to freeze.
Natasha John from Australia here again. I have searched all the supermarkets for the Ranch mix without success. They do have Paul Newmans made up Ranch dressing Can I use this and if so how much? Can you suggest a pkt alternative to use to Ranch if this does not suit?
Thanks
John
Hi John, I honestly haven’t experimented that way so it is difficult to guess. If using ranch, maybe use 1/3 to 1/2 cup and cut back the cream cheese a little.
Hi Natasha
I am from Australia and love your recipies. With the 1 0.4 oz package ranch dressing mix for the Chilli chicken what is the Australian equivalent to use. Also with the tomatoes and chilli can I just add chilli flakes and also can I use parsley. Your recipies are wonderful Thank you
Hi John, I’m not sure what is equivalent to ranch mix in Australia. You might need to google that. Chili flakes and parsley would work just fine and thank you for trying our recipes 😀
I love this recipe. It took about 5 minutes to throw all the ingredients in the crock pot and was ready in 5 hours and only cost $9.00 to make (I bought store brand ingredients and left out the cilantro).
I’m happy to hear you enjoy the recipe as much as I do Debbie! Thanks for sharing your fantastic review!
Is there something different then cilantro you would recommend. I could just leave it out, but would you replace it with something? Im not a fan of cilantro :).. can’t wait to make this.
Hi Barbara, I haven’t tried any substitutions for cilantro but I think fresh parsley might work well – maybe just limit it to 1/4 cup if using parsley.
I make this and everybody loves it!!.. the only difference is instead of cream cheese I add half a cup of heavy whip. Thank you so much for posting recipes that are truly delicious. Blessings to you and your family.
What a great suggestion Paula! I’m glad the whole family enjoys the recipe. Thanks for following and sharing your encouraging comments! God Bless 🙂
This tastes amazing! When the time was up it didn’t look so good but the taste, OMG!! Definitely family favorite. Thank you for the recipe
My pleasure Katie! I’m glad to hear you enjoy the recipe, thanks for sharing!
Can I use frozen corn instead of canned corn?
Hi Sarita, it would work great in this recipe 😬
Made this over the weekend, quick and delicious, thanks for the recipe!
My pleasure Brenda! I’m glad to hear that! Thanks for sharing your great review!
Another recipe we love! I came here because of your authentic Ukrainian dishes for a family member, but have fallen in love with so many of your recipes! Another hit! Thanks so much!
You’re welcome Leigh Ann! Thanks for following and sharing your wonderful review!
Hello I was wondering if boneless skinless chicken thighs would be fine instead of chicken breast? Just got home and noticed I bought the wrong meat ! 😩
Hi Diana, I think that would work fine. I would probably trim the extra fat from the chicken thighs.
I’ve made this chili a few weeks ago. My husband absolutely loved it. He had his coworkers try it& they fell in love with it to. So here I am making it again, only to realize I bought kidney beans I stead of black beans. I REALLY hope it still turned out just as good.
Thank you for sharing this with us, Julie!
I made this today and it was DELICIOUS!!!! I omitted the ranch dressing mix because I didn’t have any. I cooked it on high for 3 hours ( I was short on time) then shredded the chicken and cooked on low for 45 more minutes. Came out terrific! Thanks for the recipe, Natasha!
You’re welcome Tonya! Thank you for sharing 😀
Would this be good without the cream cheese?
Hi Lauren, we love it with cream cheese but one of our readers did comment with the following “I make this and everybody loves it!!.. the only difference is instead of cream cheese I add half a cup of heavy whip. Thank you so much for posting recipes that are truly delicious. Blessings to you and your family” I hope that helps.
This looks so yummy!! Can’t wait to make it for my family. I’m so HAPPY you put comments from others who have made it!! It’s nice to see little tips on making any recipe. Bon Appetit!!!
You’re going to love it! Please let me know what you think 🙂
I don’t have a crockpot, how could I make this without it??
Hi Ali, you could do this on the stovetop but it would require a long cook time over low heat for the chicken to become tender. Bring it to a simmer then reduce the heat to just barely a simmer and cook until chicken is easy to shred with forks.
Okay perfect thanks!:)